What to do when a crown or a bridge falls out?

Crown and bridges are cemented or bonded in place. Although we can make them look exactly like the real teeth, they are not truly “permanently” attached to the teeth. They can de-bond (detach) from the teeth for many reasons, including heavy uncontrolled teeth grinding, chewing of strong sticky candies, etc…

When a crown or a bridge falls out, it is best to try to:

1. Reinsert it into the exact place, EVEN if the tooth does not hurt.

2. Keep it in the exact place until you are able to see your dentist, EVEN if you cannot get to your dentist for an extended period of time.

3. Have your dentist evaluate the underlying tooth structure to make sure that decay is not the cause of the detachment.

Do not use glues such as Crazy Glue. Household glues do not work, and they will distort the fit between the tooth and the restorations.

Do not leave them out of the mouth: The adjacent teeth can easily move into the space where the crown or the bridge was occupying. When this happens, the restoration will no longer fit and the only solution may be to replace it with a new one.

As always, a little common sense will save you and your dentist both time and money.

Thanks again for reading my blog.

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Alex Nguyen, DDS is a Saratoga Dentist who practices General Dentistry, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. For over 20 years the practice has been serving the residents of Santa Clara County and San Francisco Bay Area.